Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 117: Organ Donation Amendments

HB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates organ donation registration during healthcare visits and creates statewide communication plan for life-saving programs, advancing public health initiatives within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 480: Medical Record Amendments

HB 480 amends Utah's medical record laws to clarify abortion classifications. It defines "elective abortion" as one not needed for health reasons and "medically indicated abortion" as one required to save a woman's life, treat a pregnancy loss, or address serious health risks. The bill allows patients to request that their medical records reflect a prior abortion as "not elective" (i.e., medically necessary), and requires healthcare providers to update records upon such a request. These changes affect patients who have had abortions and the healthcare providers maintaining their records, with no new funding or major procedural shifts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies medical records to protect patient rights by allowing correction of abortion classifications to reflect medical necessity, advancing patient-centered healthcare documentation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 216: Child Support Calculation Amendments

HB 216 amends Utah's child support law to exclude Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits from the gross income calculation used to determine child support payments. This change directly affects parents who receive SSDI, ensuring these disability benefits are not counted as income when calculating their child support obligation. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 81-6-203 by adding SSDI to a list of excluded benefits, alongside other means-tested programs like Medicaid and SNAP. This adjustment aligns with existing exclusions for similar benefits and prevents SSDI recipients from having these funds considered as available income for support payments. The change takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExcludes SSDI (disability benefits) from child support calculations, protecting access to healthcare-related disability benefits per Utah Code changes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 257: Opiate Information Amendments

HB 257 requires pharmacies, not the state, to provide patients receiving opiate prescriptions with a pamphlet covering addiction risks, safe storage/disposal methods, pain management alternatives, naloxone benefits, and substance use disorder resources. The pamphlets must be written in simple language, available in multiple languages, and periodically reviewed for effectiveness. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required. It directly affects pharmacies dispensing opiates and patients receiving such prescriptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pharmacies to provide patient education on opioid risks, safe use, and resources, directly improving patient safety and access to harm reduction information within healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 338: First Responder Health Amendments

HB 338 requires all Utah first responder agencies to provide mental health services to current first responders, their spouses and children, surviving spouses of line-of-duty deaths, and retired or separated first responders (and their spouses) for three years after separation. It creates a Mental Health Resources Reserve Account funded by agency contributions to provide grants for mental health plans, prioritizing small agencies, and mandates the Department of Public Safety to submit annual compliance reports to specific committees and a public safety portal. The bill also updates grant application requirements to ensure providers have first responder-specific experience and outlines detailed plan criteria for agencies seeking funding. No new state funds are appropriated; existing resources will support these expanded services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health services for first responders and families via agency funding, creating dedicated resources and prioritizing small agencies.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates mental health services for first responders, enhancing workplace safety and worker well-being per Labor & Employment topic description.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 156: Blood Transfusion Amendments

HB 156 allows patients to use their own blood or blood from a designated donor (like a family member) for transfusions, unless it's an emergency, there's insufficient time to arrange it, or the healthcare facility already has a process for patient-provided blood. It prohibits healthcare facilities from blocking this option and provides liability protection for providers if injuries occur from using such blood, unless the provider was grossly negligent. The bill directly affects patients needing transfusions and Utah healthcare facilities, taking effect in May 2026. It defines key terms and aligns with federal blood collection laws, with no funding impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to blood transfusion options by allowing self-donated or family donor blood, prohibiting facility barriers, and protecting providers from liability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 295: Overdose Amendments

HB 295, the "Overdose Amendments," updates Utah's criminal code to better address overdose situations. It expands the affirmative defense for reporting overdoses to include both the person experiencing the overdose and anyone who stays with them during the event. The bill also creates a new option for courts to dismiss first-time drug offenses if the individual commits to substance abuse treatment, and clarifies that reporting an overdose can be used as a sentencing mitigating factor for both parties involved. These changes aim to reduce criminal penalties for overdose-related incidents while encouraging treatment engagement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands overdose reporting defense, allows treatment diversion for first-time drug offenses, reducing criminal penalties and promoting rehabilitation per bill's sentencing mitigating factor and dismissal provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables court dismissal for first-time drug offenses when committing to substance abuse treatment, directly expanding healthcare access for substance use disorders.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 14: Behavior Analyst Licensing Amendments

HB 14 extends the expiration date for Utah's Behavior Analyst Licensing Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This change ensures the law governing behavior analyst licensure remains in effect for an additional decade, preventing its automatic repeal. The bill includes minor technical adjustments to the relevant code but does not alter licensing requirements for behavior analysts. This extension directly affects behavior analysts and the state's regulatory process for their professional licensing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends licensing for behavior analysts (mental health professionals), ensuring continuity of regulated healthcare services without altering requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 28: Health and Human Services Sunset Amendments

HB 28 extends the expiration dates for several health-related programs and committees under Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. It specifically delays the sunset (repeal) of programs like the Rare Disease Advisory Council Grant Program, Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Grant Program, and Behavioral Health Receiving Center Grant Program, pushing their expiration dates from 2026 to 2036 or later. The bill amends Utah Code sections to adjust these repeal deadlines without creating new programs or appropriating funds. These changes directly affect the ongoing operation of these advisory bodies and grant initiatives, allowing them to continue functioning past their original expiration dates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends expiration dates for critical health programs (rare disease, newborn screening, mental health crisis services) preventing repeal, sustaining funding and services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 70: Correctional Health Services Amendments

HB 70 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to implement a new electronic health record system for inmate care by 2026, based on a working group's recommendations. It makes funds for unexpected high-cost correctional health care non-lapsing (meaning they won't expire if unused), and mandates a treatment plan for all inmates with substance use disorders, including medication-based treatment. The bill also sets accreditation standards for correctional health facilities and allows parole boards to consider health examiner reports when deciding parole conditions. These changes directly affect inmates in Utah's correctional facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Corrections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates substance use treatment plans and accreditation standards for correctional health, advancing rehabilitation and facility standards within criminal justice reform.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates substance use treatment plans, ensures non-lapsing funds for care, and sets accreditation standards for correctional health facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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